Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Hiko told the Eldest Prince that his worsening condition might require the Reanimation Technique, though he had never tried it before. He offered the Eldest Prince a choice between going to Wangchuan Lake and forgetting his identity to live as an ordinary person, or keeping his memories and throne while continuing to suffer.

• Uchiha Hiko said the Eldest Prince's condition had worsened and proposed using the Reanimation Technique to save him.
• The Eldest Prince insisted that he trusted Uchiha Hiko and demanded that he honor their agreement and save his life.
• Uchiha Hiko explained that the Eldest Prince might need to let go of his identity and status for his illness to improve.
• Uchiha Hiko gave the Eldest Prince two choices: go to Wangchuan Lake and forget his past, or remain on the throne while his condition continued to worsen.
• Uchiha Hiko resolved to respect the Eldest Prince's choice and decide for himself who would take the throne afterward.

Uchiha Hiko made the Eldest Prince choose between his life and his former glory, hoping to learn what kind of person he was. The Eldest Prince chose to live, showed remorse for neglecting his people, and earned Uchiha Hiko’s resolve to save him.

• Uchiha Hiko reflected that the Eldest Prince’s choice would reveal his character and reconsidered his decision to favor the Second Prince.
• Uchiha Hiko told the Eldest Prince to choose whether to go with him to Wangchuan Lake and warned him to accept the consequences.
• The Eldest Prince chose to go, saying he could give up his former glory but could not forget his country.
• The Eldest Prince admitted that he had neglected his duties and said he wanted to recover so he could govern the country properly.
• Uchiha Hiko admired the Eldest Prince’s decision and promised to do everything he could to save him.

Uchiha Hiko told the Eldest Prince that he had agreed to support the Second Prince but would now let the brothers compete fairly for the throne. The Eldest Prince admitted his jealousy and wrongdoing, and Uchiha Hiko encouraged him to face the Second Prince and reconcile.

• Uchiha Hiko explained that he had promised to join forces with the Second Prince because he believed the Eldest Prince had mistreated villagers, but he would now support whichever prince proved more capable.
• Uchiha Hiko told the Eldest Prince that his illness had been cured and urged him to compete without fear.
• The Eldest Prince thanked Uchiha Hiko and admitted that jealousy of the Second Prince had driven him to seize villagers' medicinal herbs and seek power.
• The Eldest Prince said he missed the carefree bond he had shared with his younger brother and recognized that his actions had been wrong.
• Uchiha Hiko comforted the Eldest Prince and urged him to face the Second Prince to resolve their conflict.

Uchiha Hiko began carrying out the Eldest Prince’s scheme to make the Second Prince recognize his brother’s strengths and possibly reconcile with him. He sent Xiao Yu and his men to protect the Eldest Prince while he handled other matters, knowing the residence’s security system could not stop those with special abilities.

• Uchiha Hiko accepted the Eldest Prince’s scheme and resolved to carry it out without letting anyone suspect outside involvement.
• Uchiha Hiko decided he needed reliable people near the Eldest Prince because the prince’s own attendants could not be trusted.
• Uchiha Hiko sent Xiao Yu to the Eldest Prince’s side and prepared to deal with other matters himself.
• Xiao Yu reluctantly returned to gather his brothers and arrange protection for the Eldest Prince.
• Uchiha Hiko recognized that the residence’s security system was ineffective against their special abilities and relied on Xiao Yu instead.

The Second Prince gathered his followers after learning Uchiha Hiko had left The Eldest Prince, but urged them to plan carefully rather than attack rashly. Uchiha Hiko learned of the meeting and warned Xiao Yu to protect The Eldest Prince while he continued rooting out spies.

• The Second Prince saw Uchiha Hiko’s absence as an opportunity, but told his impatient followers not to strike until they had devised a decisive plan.
• The Second Prince suspected traitors among his men and resolved to uncover the spies The Eldest Prince and Uchiha Yan had planted.
• Uchiha Hiko learned about the Second Prince’s meeting and decided to make plans for The Eldest Prince despite being away from him.
• Uchiha Hiko warned Xiao Yu to strengthen The Eldest Prince’s protection and stay by his side.
• Xiao Yu said he could not leave his mission and planned to remove the spies The Second Prince had placed near The Eldest Prince.

Uchiha Hiko worked to conceal the Eldest Prince’s plan and protect the people who would be sacrificed to divert the Second Prince’s attention. The Second Prince discovered that a subordinate had stolen his residence’s seal and grew furious, unaware of the full scheme.

• Uchiha Hiko planned to pacify the families of those being sacrificed and hide them so the Second Prince would be distracted.
• Uchiha Hiko moved the people into a space he could carry and warned that the plan had to remain secret, even from the Eldest Prince’s soldiers.
• Uchiha Hiko kept watch for spies among the Eldest Prince’s household and worked to open another hidden space without being noticed.
• The Second Prince discovered that a subordinate had stolen his residence’s seal and placed it outside the Eldest Prince’s residence, but the item was recovered.
• The Second Prince accused the subordinate of betrayal and threatened him with punishment.

After a spy in the Second Prince’s residence exposed himself and killed himself, the Second Prince planned to investigate the betrayal while Uchiha Hiko prepared to use that investigation to his advantage. The Eldest Prince remained reluctant to harm his brother, but Uchiha Hiko had decided to support him against the Second Prince.

• A spy planted by the Eldest Prince killed himself rather than reveal secrets after the Second Prince discovered him.
• The Second Prince resolved to investigate his subordinates and noted that the Eldest Prince had withdrawn from public view.
• Uchiha Hiko hid his spies and welcomed the Second Prince’s planned investigation as an opportunity to arrange his own moves.
• The Eldest Prince grieved over his brother’s betrayal and insisted that Uchiha Hiko would tell him before taking action against the Second Prince.
• Uchiha Hiko remained determined to stand by the Eldest Prince and oppose the Second Prince.

Uchiha Hiko tightened his grip on the Second Prince’s supporters by holding their families in a hidden space, while the Second Prince waited for a chance to retaliate. The supporters stayed obedient, and Uchiha Hiko remained confident that he and the Eldest Prince would prevail.

• The Second Prince accepted that he had to lie low because the Eldest Prince and Uchiha Hiko could crush him if he acted.
• Uchiha Hiko learned the Second Prince had made minor changes and prepared to keep pressure on his opponents.
• After sealing off the hidden space, Uchiha Hiko left the supporters’ families unreachable while they searched for them.
• Uchiha Hiko’s subordinates stayed quiet and followed his orders, fearing their families would suffer if they rebelled.
• Uchiha Hiko judged his subordinates obedient and warned that failure would keep them from seeing their relatives again.

Uchiha Hiko gained the Eldest Prince’s trust and took charge of a plan involving the Second Prince’s allies and the Eldest Prince’s attendants. After moving the attendants into a separate space, Hiko left to avoid suspicion, leaving the Eldest Prince dependent on him.

• The Eldest Prince agreed to entrust the matter to Uchiha Hiko and said he would reward him if he succeeded.
• Uchiha Hiko warned the Eldest Prince to control his subordinates because spies might reveal their plan to the Second Prince.
• Uchiha Hiko led the Eldest Prince’s attendants away and placed them in a separate space from the noblewomen held elsewhere.
• Uchiha Hiko left the area to avoid suspicion and returned to his residence.
• The Eldest Prince found the attendants’ disappearance strange but decided to trust Uchiha Hiko alone.

Uchiha Hiko struggled to manage the secret operation against the Second Prince’s faction after the officials’ wives were taken hostage. He decided to release the officials and seek evidence and benefits to protect himself, while the Eldest Prince continued to question his methods.

• The Second Prince sent his officials home to consider important tasks, and Uchiha Hiko decided to release them before they could speak out.
• The officials returned home, found their wives missing, and reported their suspicions to the Second Prince.
• Uchiha Hiko learned that the officials suspected the Eldest Prince’s side and worried their wives’ accounts would cause further trouble.
• Uchiha Hiko chose to release the officials early and concluded that he needed to offer them benefits and secure evidence to protect himself.
• Uchiha Hiko reflected that the Eldest Prince knew about his secret work but still questioned him, and he resolved to avoid giving anyone leverage against him.

Uchiha Hiko planned to release the captured noblewomen after making them forget what had happened, while the Eldest Prince began preparing to confront The Second Prince. Uchiha Yan believed the Eldest Prince still underestimated the danger and urged a decisive showdown.

• Uchiha Yan recognized that the Eldest Prince had entrusted him with an important mission against The Second Prince.
• Uchiha Hiko decided to deal with his subordinates and release the noblewomen after making them forget their capture.
• The Second Prince's supporters debated using the captured noblewomen as leverage and suspected Uchiha Hiko was involved.
• Uchiha Yan realized that his goal of eliminating The Second Prince differed from the Eldest Prince's aim of merely denying him the throne.
• The Eldest Prince asked Uchiha Hiko to help him prepare for the conflict, and Uchiha Hiko told him he had to take part in the war.

The Second Prince confronted the Eldest Prince over the advisers and craftsmen who had joined his camp, while the Eldest Prince struggled between affection for his brother and the need to resist him. The Second Prince considered using their family ties to influence him, and the Eldest Prince decided to keep the confrontation secret as the conflict escalated.

• The Eldest Prince said he still loved The Second Prince but believed they could no longer reconcile, and Uchiha Hiko judged that his brother had been driven to desperate measures by the mass defections.
• The Second Prince entered the Eldest Prince's residence and demanded an explanation for the advisers and craftsmen who had joined the Eldest Prince's camp.
• The Eldest Prince told The Second Prince that the defectors had chosen their side themselves, then resolved to strike back rather than keep waiting for further attacks.
• The Second Prince concluded that his Big Brother still cared for him and considered using family ties to gain an advantage.
• The Eldest Prince questioned Uchiha Hiko about why he still felt kindness toward The Second Prince, then decided to suppress news of their confrontation.

Uchiha Hiko urged the Eldest Prince to trust his judgment as they prepared to face the Second Prince. The Second Prince's troops showed signs of fear, leaving Uchiha Hiko confident that the Eldest Prince could wait for an opening.

• The Eldest Prince asked why Uchiha Hiko believed the Second Prince would not act rashly, and Uchiha Hiko cited his greater experience in war.
• Uchiha Hiko reassured the Eldest Prince that he would prevent him from suffering losses and promised they would fight together.
• Uchiha Hiko advised the Eldest Prince to let the Second Prince make the first move and wait until he became desperate for an opening.
• The Second Prince demanded that the Eldest Prince either fight or surrender the throne while keeping himself behind his soldiers.
• Uchiha Hiko pointed out that the Second Prince's soldiers were moving their weapons forward while their bodies retreated, and the Eldest Prince asked why they were afraid.

Uchiha Hiko reassured The Eldest Prince that The Second Prince’s huge army was an undisciplined rabble and urged him to wait for the enemy to act. After provoking The Second Prince into ordering a charge, Hiko called on The Eldest Prince to attack, though the soldiers remained frozen.

• The Eldest Prince refused to retreat, fearing The Second Prince would seize the throne and destroy his forces.
• Uchiha Hiko argued that the enemy’s numbers concealed their lack of discipline and advised The Eldest Prince to let them attack first.
• Uchiha Hiko taunted The Second Prince, and The Eldest Prince accused him of trying to usurp the throne.
• The Second Prince lost his temper and ordered his soldiers to charge, but they froze in place.
• Uchiha Hiko told The Eldest Prince to attack while the enemy stood motionless.

The Eldest Prince’s better-trained troops routed the Second Prince’s larger force, and the Eldest Prince captured his brother. Uchiha Hiko urged him to kill the Second Prince, leaving the brothers’ fate unresolved.

• Uchiha Hiko urged the Eldest Prince to act while the Second Prince hesitated, and the Eldest Prince ordered his soldiers to attack.
• The Eldest Prince’s trained soldiers overwhelmed the Second Prince’s poorly trained troops despite being outnumbered.
• The Second Prince questioned why his force was losing, and Uchiha Hiko and the Eldest Prince pointed to his careless training and the soldiers’ indulgences.
• The Eldest Prince pinned down the Second Prince and held him up before the remaining soldiers.
• The Second Prince begged for mercy, but the Eldest Prince recalled how his brother had treated him before.
• Uchiha Hiko advised the Eldest Prince to kill the Second Prince to prevent future trouble.

Uchiha Hiko proposed tying up the defeated Second Prince so the Eldest Prince could spare his life without leaving him free to cause harm. The Eldest Prince accepted, and the bound Second Prince begged for mercy while being challenged to recall their Father Emperor’s teachings.

• Uchiha Hiko suggested that they tie up the Second Prince and take him back to deal with later.
• The Eldest Prince agreed, and Uchiha Hiko ordered soldiers to bind the Second Prince.
• The Eldest Prince rebuked his younger brother for forgetting their Father Emperor’s lessons as the Second Prince remained dazed and lamented his defeat.
• The Eldest Prince offered not to kill the Second Prince if he could recite their Father Emperor’s teachings.
• The Second Prince pleaded for his life and claimed he remembered the teachings.

The Eldest Prince captured the Second Prince after learning that he had not prepared troops as their father had ordered. As they headed back to the Royal Palace, the Eldest Prince thanked Uchiha Hiko and asked him to help govern once he ascended the throne.

• The Second Prince recalled Phoenix’s warning to train troops for an urgent war, but admitted that he had not done so.
• The Eldest Prince dismissed the Second Prince’s lightweight sword and prepared to take him and his forces to the Royal Palace.
• The Second Prince lamented that his plans to seize power had failed, while Uchiha Hiko wondered whether his presence had changed events.
• The Eldest Prince thanked Uchiha Hiko and said he would take their father’s seat upon returning to the palace.
• Uchiha Hiko said he had more important matters to pursue, but the Eldest Prince asked him to assist after the coronation.

Uchiha Hiko and the Eldest Prince returned to the Royal Palace with the captured Second Prince. The Eldest Prince sent his brother to the dungeon, though Uchiha Hiko believed he only meant to intimidate him before eventually releasing him.

• Uchiha Hiko assured the Eldest Prince that his plan would succeed as they approached the Royal Palace with the bound Second Prince.
• Uchiha Hiko asked how the Eldest Prince intended to deal with the Second Prince once they returned.
• The Eldest Prince ordered his men to throw the Second Prince into the dungeon.
• The Second Prince protested that he had done nothing wrong, but the Eldest Prince mocked him and had four guards carry him away.
• Uchiha Hiko judged that the Eldest Prince meant to wear down the Second Prince's arrogance rather than imprison him permanently.

The Eldest Prince asked Uchiha Hiko to arrange a grand celebration to mark his restored status, and Uchiha Hiko organized preparations at the city wall. After relaxing together in the renovated palace, they left to inspect the site, with the Eldest Prince insisting Uchiha Hiko go first.

• The Eldest Prince said he wanted a grand celebration to highlight his status, and Uchiha Hiko offered to arrange it.
• Uchiha Hiko proposed sending men to prepare the city wall while the two rested, and the Eldest Prince agreed.
• The Eldest Prince and Uchiha Hiko sat in the renovated palace and exchanged cups as they discussed the changes.
• A guard reported that the city wall was ready for inspection, and Uchiha Hiko dismissed him.
• Uchiha Hiko invited the Eldest Prince to inspect the wall, and the Eldest Prince told Uchiha Hiko to go ahead first.

Uchiha Hiko and the Eldest Prince inspected the palace decorations prepared for the prince’s ascension and discussed their role in the ceremony. The Eldest Prince invited Uchiha Hiko to stand beside him on the platform, but left his reassurance unfinished.

• Uchiha Hiko and the Eldest Prince admired the brightly decorated palace and discussed the Second Prince’s lost chance to witness the ascension.
• The Eldest Prince approved the guards’ work, and Uchiha Hiko dismissed them so he could speak privately with the prince.
• The Eldest Prince told Uchiha Hiko to choose a suitable time for the ascension and said he would ascend the city wall before taking the throne.
• The Eldest Prince invited Uchiha Hiko to stand with him on the platform, crediting him with helping secure victory in battle.
• Uchiha Hiko accepted but worried about public opinion, and the Eldest Prince began to reassure him without finishing his explanation.